Artist Statement: The once concrete “truths” that came before us, and were embedded in us through heritage, have been collapsing under manifested distortions of reality. This new reality has been brought forth through our media driven culture as multiple viewpoints have the option to take center stage simultaneously. The structure of connected symbols and combinations not of opposites, but of oppositions, exists to defy universal interpretation and yet, interconnected to and preceding the search for truth is the question—the quest. Because of this opposition, the space that connects the two is energized like a magnetic field between positive and negative poles. The area within oscillation, between consciousness and unconsciousness, between yes and no, contains an exorbitant amount of extraneous visual symbols. This is the space before the vacuum of sleep takes over and before waking and reality sets in, when the accumulation of information floods the mind. This is the space that I record.

Gabriel Lovejoy is an artist that also works as a full time educator, designer, and art director. He received his BA with a concentration in studio art from The University of North Carolina Wilmington in 1998 and his MFA from The Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall of 2015. Lovejoy juxtaposes contrasting elements and styles to enhance a complex view of the union between the real and the perceived. Throughout his career he has participated in numerous group shows and five solo exhibitions. The open narrative that is present in his paintings pushes the concept of ambiguity while being visually grounded with a sound sense of design. Gabriel currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and two children. To view more of his work, please visit: www.gabriel-lovejoy.com.